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  1. An institution, body, office or agency established by or based on the Treaty on European Union and the Treaties establishing the European Communities.

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Call key data

European Quantum Communication Infrastructure - The EuroQCI initiative - Works

Funding Program

Connecting Europe Facility - Digital

Call number

CEF-DIG-2024-EUROQCI-WORKS

deadlines

Opening
22.10.2024

Deadline
13.02.2025 17:00

Call budget

€ 90,000,000.00

Estimated EU contribution per project

€ 5,000,000.00

Link to the call

ec.europa.eu

Link to the submission

ec.europa.eu

Call content

short description

CEF Digital actions to co-fund the terrestrial backbone network components will be complementary to those developed through the Digital Europe Programme and will be focused on supporting cross-border links between two or more national quantum communication networks in Member States, and/or linking the EuroQCI’s terrestrial and space segments.

Call objectives

The first services provided by EuroQCI will be based on QKD, which uses the properties of quantum physics to establish a secure encryption key at each end of a communications line in order to protect against vulnerabilities, namely eavesdropping. The first phase of the EuroQCI infrastructure deployment is focused on the deployment of terrestrial backbone components. It should aim for solutions providing end-to-end security.

The following priorities have been set to address the needs of EU’s national governments and critical infrastructures supporting services of general interest:

  • The deployment of the first cross-border quantum terrestrial backbone networks for interconnecting neighbouring national quantum communication infrastructures across borders, including if necessary through the deployment of "trusted nodes" (i.e. secure access points to the network which make it possible to link distant sites securely). Addressing the coexistence of QKD with conventional communications technology is encouraged, together with interoperability at the orchestration level of the network. Solutions should rely on state-of-the-art interoperability methods and standards, and address scalability, upgradability and end-to-end security. Critical components for QKD should use EU technologies when such technologies are available. The use of non-EU technologies should be fully justified.
  • Interconnection with the EuroQCI’s space segment, which will be implemented via the optical ground stations and related ground equipment, serving as an interface between the EuroQCI’s space components and its terrestrial segment.
  • Where relevant, the provision of fibre links between the EuroQCI and a pan-European network of Security Operation Centres (SOCs).

The management of encryption keys (Key Management System) between all elements of the EuroQCI in an end-to-end manner should also be considered. This would include managing the keys efficiently and securely, ensuring their transmission to recipients, optimal routing and monitoring of system performance, and solutions for the control layer, i.e. software-defined network (SDN).

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Expected effects and impacts

  • Enable reliable and resilient transmission of sensitive communications and data between public authorities, research organisations and critical infrastructures in Member States, including outermost regions and OCTs;
  • Boost Europe’s capabilities in developing quantum-based secure optical communication networks and its capacity to protect critical public infrastructures by securing their communications and data, especially those that cross national borders and serve more than one Member State;
  • Promote quantum-based secure networks and the emergence of an ecosystem that would enable a large market uptake. This will ultimately support the growth of a pan-European quantum industry that would develop new, innovative systems and technologies critical for the EU’s digital strategic autonomy.

Expected results

This topic will support the deployment of quantum communication infrastructure for connections between Member States, including OCTs:

  • where the national segments of quantum communication infrastructure are already in place or where their deployment is already ongoing or operationally planned;
  • where a cross-border link between at least two EU countries (including outermost regions and OCTs), or a space segment interconnection is foreseen.

While it is not permitted to use RRF funding as co-funding for activities funded under this CEF Digital call, Member States may complement EuroQCI actions funded under CEF Digital (and the Digital Europe Programme) with actions funded from the RRF, as long as no risk of double funding is present. Actions funded under the Union Secure Connectivity Programme will further complement these and will, in particular, cover activities to support the further deployment of the EuroQCI’s space and terrestrial infrastructure.

In case of co-funding from national funds, State aid rules apply (see section 10 of the Work Programme for details).

Proposals under this topic shall address works, with the possibility of including studies. Activities identified as studies are eligible for funding under this call only if included in the works action. This includes the preparatory work required prior to signing a contract with a supplier and application for required permits. These activities should be executed in separate work packages and can then benefit from the funding rate specific for studies part (see section 10).

Proposals should define the post-project ownership of the infrastructure and describe the mechanism to be used to provide services, as well as the operational relationship(s) between the different participants in the value chain for providing services.

Funding will only be open to consortia, which may include, for example, private entities (e.g. private operators) or public bodies (see section 6).

In order to provide applicants with the information needed to address the actions mentioned in the call scope, the specifications of optical ground stations compatible with the demonstrator satellite Eagle-1 will be made available at the following webpage: SES Techcom (ses-techcom.com). Similarly, the specifications of optical ground stations compatible with the EuroQCI first generation satellite (developed under the ESA SAGA programme) will be made available at the following webpage. Further detailed specifications for Eagle-1, subject to a non-disclosure agreement, will be made available to successful applicants during the grant agreement preparation process.

For more information about digital security requirements, please consult pages 8-10 of the call document.

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Eligibility Criteria

Regions / countries for funding

EU Member States, Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT)

eligible entities

Education and training institution, International organization, Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) / Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Other, Private institution, incl. private company (private for profit), Public Body (national, regional and local; incl. EGTCs), Research Institution incl. University, Small and medium-sized enterprise (SME)

Mandatory partnership

Yes

Project Partnership

In order to be eligible, the applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must:

  • be legal entities (public or private bodies)
  • be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.
    • EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs))

Please note however that this call is subject to restrictions due to security reasons. This means that only the following countries are eligible: EU Member States. Participation in any capacity (as beneficiary, affiliated entity, associated partner, subcontractor or recipient of financial support to third parties) is limited to entities from eligible countries. Project activities (included subcontracted work) must take place in eligible countries (see section geographic location below and section 10). The Grant Agreement may provide for IPR restrictions (see section 10).

Specific cases:

  • Natural persons are NOT eligible (with the exception of self-employed persons, i.e. sole traders, where the company does not have legalpersonality separate from that of the natural person).
  • International organisations are eligible. The rules on eligible countries do not apply to them.
  • Entities without legal personality under their national law may exceptionally participate, provided that their representatives have the capacity to undertake legal obligations on their behalf, and offer guaranteesfor the protection of the EU financial interests equivalent to that offered by legal persons.
  • EU bodies — EU bodies (with the exception of the European Commission Joint Research Centre) can NOT be part of the consortium.

other eligibility criteria

Proposals must be submitted by a minimum of two applicants (beneficiaries; not affiliated entities). In the case of terrestrial connections, proposals must be submitted by a minimum of two applicants (beneficiaries; not affiliated entities) from a minimum of two different eligible countries.

Financial support to third parties is not allowed.

The costs will be reimbursed at the funding rates fixed in the Grant Agreement (maximum 50% for the costs of studies, maximum 70% for the costs of works in outermost regions, and maximum 30% for all other costs categories (‘project funding rate’)).

Additional information

Topics

Digitalisation, Digital Society, ICT, 
Justice, Safety & Security

Relevance for EU Macro-Region

EUSAIR - EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region, EUSALP - EU Strategy for the Alpine Space, EUSBSR - EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, EUSDR - EU Strategy for the Danube Region

UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs)

project duration

max. 42 months

Additional Information

All proposals must be submitted electronically via the Funders & Tenders Portal electronic submission system (accessible via the topic page in the Search Funding & Tenders section). Paper submissions are NOT possible.

Proposals must be complete and contain all parts and mandatory annexes and supporting documents, e.g. plan for the exploitation and dissemination of the results including communication activities, etc.

The application form will have threeparts:

  • Part A (to be filled in directly online) contains administrative information about the participants (future coordinator and beneficiaries and affiliated entities), and the summarised budget for the project
  • Part B (to be downloaded from the Portal submission system, completed and then assembled and re-uploaded as a PDF in the system) contains the technical description of the project.
  • Part C (to be filled in directly online, for Works topic only) containing additional project data

Mandatory annexes and supporting documents (to be uploaded)

  • detailed budget table per WP (template available in the Submission System)
  • activity reports of last year (unless exempted from operational capacity check; see section 7)
  • list of previous projects (key projects for the last 4 years) (template available in Part B)
  • timetable/Gantt chart (template available in the Submission System)
  • letters of support (MS agreement) from the authority in the relevant Member State(s)(template available in the Submission System; the list of MS contact points is published in the HaDEA website)
  • ownership control questionnaire, including for subcontractors and associated partners (template available in the Submission System)
  • security declarations signed by the participating entities
  • other annexes.

The limit for a full application (Part B) is 120 pages.

Call documents

CEF-DIG-2024-EUROQCICEF-DIG-2024-EUROQCI(469kB)

Contact

European Health and Digital Executive Agency - HaDEA - National Contact Points
Website

European Health and Digital Executive Agency - HaDEA
Website

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